Life-preserver.



3.1. HINES.

I LIFE PRESERVER. APPLICATION FILED 51H 5. 191-4.

1,137,97 1 Q Patented May 4, 1915.

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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S. J. HINES.

LlFE PRESERVER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, I914. Patented May 4, 1915 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

SAMUELJ. HINES, OI" PLAQUEMINE, LOUISIANA.

LIFE-PBESERVEE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915.

Application filed Kay 5, 1914. Serial No. 886,525.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, SAMUEL J. HINEB, a citizen of the United States, residing at laquemine, in the parish of Iberville and State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to life preservers, and preserving garments.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a garment of this character wherein the same isformed with an opening to permit the wearing ofthe garment without possibility of water creeping into the same, thus protecting the wearer and also permitting the convenient application or removal of the garment.

Another object" of the invention is the provision of a garment of this character wherein the wearer will be sustained afloat and protected from water, the, material of the garment being water proof, and affording the wearer freedom of movement while wearing the garment, the garment being. of novel form to insure service.

A further object-of the invention is the provision of a garment of this character wherein the same when not in use can be readily folded to render it compact so that it will occupy I also which is simple in construction, reliable and efiicient in its purpose, and inexpensive in manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thecbnstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a front elevation of a garment constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof. Fig.3 is a sectional view. ig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the garment. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through one of the buoyant elements. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the garment.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the garment comprises a body portion A, leg

portions B, sleeve portions C, the latter be more particularly to the class of'life' the least possible space, and

ing formed with hand coverings D, each proyided with a thumb stall E, while the leg portions B are formed with foot coverings F, which are integral therewith, and like wise the hand coverings D are integral with the sleeve portions C of the garment. The garment is made, with front and back sections 5- and' 6 respectively, the same being joined together with overlapped uniting scams 7 which are water-proof, the sections being also made from suitable water-proof material, such for example as water-proofed canvas with a rubber coating.

The. body A is formed with an enlarged neck opening 8 adjacent to opposite edges of which are formed eyelets 9 through which is trained a lacing 10 so that the neck opening can be varied in size to neck of the user of the garment. When it is desired to fit the garment to a person the feet and legs of such person are passed through the neckopening 8 and the garment is pulled upwardly a suitable distance, and then the arms are inserted in the sleeves C. After the garment has received the body, the lac ing 10 is drawn to. fasten the garment about the neck of the wearer.

Stitched. or otherwise secured exteriorly to the body A of the garment, at or above the waist line, is a water-proof casement 11 in which is fitted a pneumatic inner tube 12 formed with theusual valved filling stem 13 which projects through the exterior thereof so that an air pump can attached to the stem. 13 for the filling of e inner tube 12 with air to expand the case ment 11 to serve as a buoyant element. Fixed between the body 10 and the easement 11 at intervals are straps 14 to which are detachably connected in any suitable manner spherical bodies 15 which are made from water-proof material and in which are fitted inflated balls 16 provided with .valve stems 17 which project through the bodies 15 ex-' teriorly thereof to permit the detachable connection of an air pump therewith. These bodies 15, together with the inflatable balls 16 therein serve as buoyant elements for the garment, and will assist with the casement 11 having the tube 12 therein for sustaining the wearer of t e Suitably connected to the the body A of the garment ing 18 which can be worn by the user for preventing the wetting of the head.

fit tightly about the the casement 11 to What is claimed is 2- A life preserver comprising a water-tight garment forming a body portion, leg portions and sleeve portions, hand and feet cov- 5 erings integrally formed with the res eotive sleeve and leg portions, a casing ormed without the body portion at the waist line thereof, an inflatable buoyant element located within the casing, flexible straps 10 mounted on the body portion immediately below the casing and being of a length to depend a distance below the waist line of the body portion, and inflatable buoyant elements carried at the free ends of said straps.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 15 in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL J. HINES.

Witnesses:

JACOB M. WILLLAMS, Josnrn A. Rom.

Gopien of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addreuin the f Commissioner ot- Patents, Withington, D. G." 

